Friday 22 February 2008

What should I look for in a Personal Trainer?

Choosing a personal trainer in the UK can be a daunting task, with many companies and individuals operating across the UK, it can be very hard to decide what to look for in a training company/trainer. So here is my quick guide to the main things to look for in your future trainer!
What to look for in a Personal Trainer (in no particular order):-

1) REP’s registered - A personal trainer should be registered on REP’s at level 3, you can check this by filling in any potential trainers details on the Member Search section of the website. REP’s is a government backed organisation that works with Skills Active to set qualification levels for fitness professionals. To be registered all instructors need to be adequately insured and trained.

2) Insurance - A personal trainer should have a minimum of £2,000,000 liability insurance it is worth checking that all services you are using are covered by the policy. For example a different type of insurance is needed for Sports Massage Therapy.

3) Qualifications - As stated above by being registered at level 3 on REP’s you can be pretty sure that the instructors training is at the correct standard. To check out individual qualifications and what they cover you can look at the training providers web site for more details. You should also look for a trainer who is continually updating their skills, this is done by Continuing Professional Development (a requirement of REP’s). You should look at the trainers profile and look for them continually adding to their qualification list.

4) Experience Level - Most personal trainers will have at least three to five years experience in the industry.

5) Communication Skills - This is a very important factor in my opinion, you need to try and find a trainer who you can communicate with effectively. This will ensure that you get the very most out of your training sessions and the trainer themselves, also you want the sessions to be fun and enjoyable!

6) Motivation Skills - Your trainer needs to be able to effectively motivate you, this is one of the skills that will come out of good communication and experience.

7) Equipment - The trainer needs to have a good range of equipment that will allow you to have a challenging workout, however amount of equipment is not always the be all and end all, a body weight session can be a killer if done right!

8) Cost - You need to look for a trainer that is within your price range, remember that the most expensive is not always the best. Have a look at a few trainers to gage what the average session price is in your area.

As stated above one of the main factor to look for in a trainer is your ability to communicate and get on with each other. Before signing up to any number of sessions with a trainer I advise you to do a taster/one off session, this will allow you to evaluate if the trainer is someone you feel can help you work towards to your goals, inspire, and communicate effectively with you.

Hope this helps you get on the road to fitness!

TOM

Tom Godwin – Personal Trainer – Foresight Fitness Services (Personal Training + Corporate Wellbeing) - Manchester and Cheshire, UK

trainer@foresight-fitness.co.uk

www.foresight-fitness.co.uk

Friday 1 February 2008

Benefits of Using a Personal Trainer

In this blog I am going to look at some of the benefits of using a Personal Trainer and how we can work with you to help you achieve your personal wellbeing goals!

Using a Personal Trainer offers the client a number of benefits over working out alone. The most common reason we get is the motivating factor a trainer can have in encouraging the individual to push out that last rep, run that last mile, and generally work harder during a training session.

Having a trainer also makes it so you have somebody to account to over those missed training sessions, an effective trainer can help you to keep training by giving you just the right amount of encouragement and also questioning missed sessions on those low energy days. They can also help you to re-assert those goals that you have set of yourself which should help you stay goal focused and therefore on track.



Under the guidance of a personal trainer you will also be sure that you are exercising effectively and most of all safely. Your trainer should be able to ensure that you are using correct technique and you are working within your limits. This can greatly reduce the risk of injury ensuring that you have a constant progression towards your goal!

Some of the specific benefits of using a Personal Trainer include:-
-Reduced body fat %

-Increased lean muscle tissue

-Weight loss

-A stronger, leaner, more toned body

-Stronger abdominal and back muscles

-Improved posture and flexibility

-Improved cardiovascular capacity

-Improved sporting ability

-Help towards your goal

    There are a number of other wellbeing benefits that you will also receive just by keeping your body in a better shape. These include:
    -Increased energy levels

    -Feeling less tired and lethargic
    -
    -Looking and feeling better in yourself

    -Improved self-confidence

    -The desire to eat a more healthy and balanced diet

    -Improved sleep patterns

      Having a personal trainer also allows training to become more fun!! Your trainer will be able to constantly change the format of your sessions, tailoring them to suit your specific requirements. If your having fun, you are much less likely to give up!

      Your personal trainer will want to see you achieve your personal goals, they will do everything that they can to help you. Each and every client is very important to us and we try to make sure that you get the very best out of your time training with us!

      Basically you will see endless benefits from using a Foresight Fitness Trainer and we are here to support you as an individual. That means no generic programs, no assumptions, and just dedication to helping you achieve your wellbeing goals!

      Well until next time!

      TOM



      Tom Godwin – Personal Trainer – Foresight Fitness Services (Personal Training + Corporate Wellbeing) - Manchester and Cheshire, UK

      trainer@foresight-fitness.co.uk

      www.foresight-fitness.co.uk